Jean-Claude Casadesus
Photo: Orchestre national de Lille

French conductor Jean-Claude Casadesus celebrates his 90th birthday today. He was born in 1935 in Paris where he studied at the National Conservatory.

At the beginning of his career, he was Music Director of the Châtelet and later Principal Conductor of the Opéra de Paris and the Opéra Comique. Together with his mentor Pierre Dervaux, he participated in founding the Orchestre des Pays de Loire, where he was Deputy Director.

Casadesus founded the Orchestre national de Lille in 1976 and led it for more than forty years.

As guest conductor, he has appeared with major international orchestras and opera houses.

Casadesus has written two books: « Le plus court chemin d’un cœur à un autre » (Stock, 1997) and « La partition d’une vie » (Écriture, 2012).

For sixty years, Jean-Claude Casadesus has devoted himself entirely to music an he is still active at 90.

He continues to receive regular international invitations and he has planned concerts up to October 2026 and beyond.